Sorry for the delay, attended a funeral last week. No grass this chapter, back to grass next chapter.

Link to wordpress site: Ch. 7

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-- POV King –

For some reason after I sent out the request for the adventurers, my healer came to see me and ask how I was doing. I told him I was fine, that nothing was wrong, but that only seemed to worry him some more. In the end, I couldn’t get rid of him until he casted each tier of diagnosis and healing type magic, save for the highest tier, I forbade him from wasting precious materials for that. He left sulking, muttering about other tests he could do, but bah, I know what’s wrong with me, it’s that Rose!

…

Oh, they did it. The adventurers retrieved the feather for Rose. They’re saying several people died, damn it. Our talented ones must bear the burden for the Kingdom. Thank you, adventurers, for your noble sacrifice. Looks like only 4 survived, the best of the best. Thank goodness it wasn’t a wash.

“Adventurers, I must bow my head to you in thanks for this wondrous occasion. Yes, many people were lost, many great people who are tasked to explore the unknown, and safeguard where the Kingdom is unable. For your service, you four adventurers, though one of you is not here, shall be granted the Mithril rank for clashing with a mythical rank beast and accomplishing your objective. This Kingdom is eternally grateful for your sacrifice and your work, and don’t worry, the feather has been quickly taken to the Oracle’s tower, where Rose is busy with preparations. As promised, I will grant you each a weapon from our Kingdom’s vault, as well as a request directly fulfilled by myself. Remuneration with gold may not be requested, as that will be freely given to you, our saviors. However, noble titles, land, jewels, magical beasts, or even special permissions can be asked from me today. Personally, I would enjoy having you fellows as Royal guards here at the castle, but it would be a disservice to the people, as your talents for adventuring may be wasted. Just know the offer stands.”

Great, that was a good speech. I wonder what they will ask for? My daughter’s hand I specifically left out, though they may ask for it. Of course, if their character is good, and she agreed, it would be fine. But truthfully, I don’t think she’d ever agree to marry one of these rugged men and women. She’s so cold to others, but she still smiles at me……. And Rose. For some reason she’s a fan of Rose, I sorely want to cast Rose in a negative view to her, and show her our Kingdom’s secrets, but that might ruin her smile, and tinge her visage in sorrow. A father can’t do that, so I must have a son soon to hold the secret in her place.

-- POV Princess Cirili –

                Uggh, these stupid adventurers are dirtying our floor. What a load of shitbags. Did Father just say he’ll give them a special request? They should be just happy taking the gold and going away to do whatever the fuck they do. They answered the call from Father, they should be happy to do something for the Kingdom for once. Fuck, one of them just looked at me, I should give him a smile I guess, I don’t want to scare these slaves off. Father wouldn’t be happy if I scared them off.

                Oh, the feather was for Rose. Why the fuck am I here when I could be with Rose? She’s the only one I can truly like here in the castle. She does what she wants, when she wants. And she was nice to me when I was little, not treating me as a child. All of her talks of fate etc. were boring, but I did get to learn so much magic from her! I’m still a pebble compared to her, but I’ve already ascertained I’m stronger than any other magician in the Kingdom. I can’t wait to go somewhere and destroy some things with my magic. It will be so much more fun than sitting here in the castle.

-- POV Archer –

It was a tough battle that our group of twenty decided to undertake. Phoenixes don’t naturally lose their feathers, they only drop them if injured in a bright flash to distract their opponent as they flee, or when they die before they are reborn.

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I was the leader of the group due to my many accomplishments, and my ability to oversee a battle from the back lines. I was in a relatively safer position than the others, but it didn’t stop the Phoenix from swooping over and hitting our long-range support and damage. We lost five ranged weapon users and two magicians, with a third heavily wounded, my best friend. He’s laid in at the Guild, being slowly healed from the Phoenix fire.

The damage was tremendous to us, but it was for our country, our families. We were not blinded by greed, the promised rewards or titles. We just cared for this wonderful kingdom. As each of our comrades died, we continued on, until at last we struck a lucky blow that injured the phoenix, releasing a single, pristine feather in the process. We remorse for our fallen, but we were not stricken by unending grief, for we each knew our task was noble was important to the kingdom when we went on the mission.

We were finally before the king, we were expecting to be able to see Rose the Oracle, but we were told she was busy setting up the magic formation that needed the feather. How gracious and good is she, devoting all of her time to help our kingdom. We are truly blessed to have her in our Kingdom.

Sitting next to his Grace is the Princess of the Kingdom, Princess Cirili. Her beauty is unmatched, but she’s known for rarely showing emotion, though she is kind to anyone who speaks with her.

Oh, she smiled at me! She’s so beautiful, but alas each of us here have a cherished one at home, else I might ask for nobility so that I may have a chance at courting her. But we four have already decided on each of our requests to the King.

We will pick our weapons later, but right now is our chance to ask for anything we need. First, the only swordsman who survived. He escorted us through and back the deadly monster forest. He’s asking for an orphanage be put up in the capital for orphaned adventurer children. It must be because of his best mate that died that left a wife and a kid, poor bastard.

Next up is our paladin, a defensive shield that saved myself and others many times. He’s making a short speech on the importance of family, and how if an adventurer dies in the field, their family may be harmed. He’s asking for state sponsored aid and teaching for those in need due to adventurer’s deaths. Education is expensive, if left alone, adventurers’ families would become destitute if they had to pay those expenses after their breadwinner died.

Now it’s my turn. But before me, I should ask for my mate the magician.

“Your grace, my friend who is waylaid due to an injury, asks only that Rose fill some magic stones with some town protection spells, as there are many towns in the frontier that are in danger of monsters. With the injuries and losses from this mission, there are few magicians now that are able to cast such complex spells. As for myself, I am not as selfless as my comrades, though I still consider my pursuit a noble one. My sister has long trained as an archer, but due to my family’s station, the opportunities she has in life are limited, both as a woman and as a warrior. I consider her equal to myself in ability, and so I do not feel bad for asking that she be given a chance to become a Royal guard, specifically near Rose, as she has long looked up to her.”

-- POV King –

Heh, those requests seem chosen to increase their popularity, but I can’t feel any greed in them. A poor choice, they could have had those things if they applied for nobility. Of course, it would come with some responsibilities, but still it would have been much better. Oh well, let’s give them what they want, and I can look good too if I do something grander. Ooh, I can also take some more power from the nobility. I’ve already stripped them of most of their power, undoing most of the deals my forefathers had to make in order to rebuild the kingdom.

“Oh, how wondrous our adventurers are nowadays. Our Kingdom is truly blessed to have both a wonderful populace and our Oracle to help protect us. All of your requests shall be granted, as for the magic stones they will be filled as soon as the current preparations are finished. In addition to your requests, I have decided to create a national holiday this day and every year after, celebrating our adventurers and their contributions to the Kingdom. On this day all entrance fees for the Adventurer’s Guild shall be paid from the treasury, and any talented adventurer can apply to become a Royal guard. No longer will station nor cost restrict the application into the elite units of the Kingdom!”

– POV Archer – Adventurer’s Guild –

I’m with our remaining party, including a barely movable magician, Cal, celebrating the national holiday in the Adventurer’s guild.

Phhhhhhhrrrrrrooooooooooommmmmmmmmm

What was that huge magical surge!?!? Even I could feel it with my weak mana sense. It feels kind of eerie, almost dreadful. It seems everyone could feel it, as we all looked towards the East where the mana went too, then all, as if puppets, looked to where it came from, the castle. What does our local magician think it was……..

He’s passed out, huh. But I see his magic stone on his staff glowing bright red, showing that the magic that passed through was a fire type magic. But I’ve never seen a stone glow that brightly before! I wonder…..

“That’s it!! Everyone, look at Cal’s staff!! It’s glowing as red as the phoenix we fought not even two days before! It must have been the Oracle, unleashing her magic on a powerful foe far away!”

A guard nearby shouted out after, “It’s true!! I’ve been guarding the tower the Oracle has been in for a while now, and the past week this feeling I just felt I’ve felt around the tower! There’s nothing to fear now!”

Thank the gods I live in this wonderful Kingdom, with such reliable leaders and such strong protections.

“Drinks are on us!”